Cutting council paperwork

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

Grant Shapps has given councils the freedom to improve how they are run without holding expensive and extensive consultations.

Laws passed in 2007 mean that all councils have to choose whether to have a locally elected mayor or a council leader, but are required to consult their residents before any changes can be made. The government has pledged to scrap the need for councils to change how they are run so they will no longer have to go through this process.

But until then, the Local Government Minister has written to all district councils - the only authorities left to make this decision - making it clear they have the freedom to take a light touch approach to the consultations, at minimal cost to council taxpayers. Councils could use a newspaper article, press release or their websites, to get local views.

Grant Shapps said:

“The path to change is too often littered with hoops, hurdles, form filling and cost. I want us to cut out the paperwork and get on with making a difference.

“Of course it is important that local people have a say over how their council is run. But as council taxpayers they will not expect their councils to spend a fortune trying to ask for their opinions.

“That’s why I want little public money spent on this, when it can be better used on improving the local services residents rely on - especially when we’re all working to get the country out of this financial mess.”